The Search for Stolen Babies–Las Abuelas de Plaza de Mayo

As you gather around your family for Thanksgiving, imagine what it would be like if you were separated from your loved ones…maybe not even sure if they are alive.

That’s reality for Las Abuelas de Plaza de Mayo, or the Grandmothers of the May Plaza, a group of women in search of their adult children and grandchildren who disappeared during political turmoil in Argentina from 1976-1983.

Some of the abuelas have since discovered the truth about what happened to their children…that they were murdered at the hands of government death squads.

They’ve also learned that their grandchildren were taken and adopted out to other families.  It’s expected 500 babies were taken from their parents and then raised by supporters of the military dictatorship.  Some were taken at birth from women who were kidnapped and killed as part of the 1976-1983 dictatorship’s “dirty war” against political dissidents.  As many as 30 thousand people died.

In many cases, the children were not, and may still not be, aware of their real identities.

The story of Las Abuelas is now told in a documentary written and produced by Dr. Charlie Tuggle, a professor and director of the University of North Carolina journalism program, along Brynne Miller and Bethany Parker.

The point of the documentary is not just to share the stories of those still searching for loved ones.  It’s also a lesson to the rest of the world that if we know of hatred and hurt and do nothing, nothing happens to stop it.

It’s a human rights issue, more evidence that good people need to stand up and say ‘no’ when they see something wrong.

You can buy a copy of the documentary for $20 online by clicking here.

If you’re interested in hosting a screening of this film in your area, you can contact the crew who produced the documentary by clicking here.